brumster

Err, guys, before you go jumping to conclusions and spreading rumours, Patrick Fitch is the director of GTM Cars... or is there a Patrick Fitch at RH too!?!? Must admit I find it hard to believe it IS GTM as they only recently got "bought out" by an engineering company RDM Automotive. So I'm guessing it's another Patrick Fitch!!

No worries; enjoy! There's some stuff on the website (the brumster one) if you haven't seen it already...

Well, however you cut it, £1500 for a gearbox is ****ing expensive, but yes, it would improve matters. With a suitable final drive you could finally give the car a semi-decent turn of speed AND motorway usability. Nervous at speed is just a nature of front-wheel drive geometry at the back of a car. In front wheel drive cars, it's called bump steer. No different here, you've just got it at the back instead of the front. Eek there are things you can do to improve it, like spherical rod ends, nylon bushes, etc. but IMHO the simple nature of design means it'll never be perfect. Hard top removal/fitting is just a matter of a few minutes, no worries. Soft top is similar but the actual fitting of it takes a little longer. Once it's fitted as an assembly, putting it up/down is very quick indeed. As for the K, you've clearly made your mind up there, so fair enough - but in short, the 1.4/1.6's are nowhere near as problematic. GTMOC used to be great, I'm sure they still are, there's a yahoo groups for them (groups.yahoo.com/gtmoc from memory; I should know, I'm a moderator!! Oops!). GTM themselves are a great bunch of guys too, very helpful, although the Coupe/Rossa have long since left the ranch and are now handled by other guys. Alan Britton took on the Rossa models, and he's a great chap, long standing club member so knows what's relevant still.

Depending on what's touching, we bought a different cam cover that had the filler at the back rather than the front - together with mounting the nosecone at whatever height we needed, we then had no problems.

Had a Mk.2 for quite a while and was quite active with the owners club. Motorway cruiser - errm, well, this would depend on the diff with a 4 speed. A 3.44 would be fine (MG Metro) but a little tiring at high speeds, or you could go for a 3.1 which would improve things at the expense of acceleration... and these things aren't exactly rapid in the first place. 5 speed box will be rare, and expensive. Let's not beat about the bush, it's not what I would pick as a motorway slugger - nervous at speed and lacking in any serious grunt at that speed. Also had a tendency to overheat but this was only if they weren't sorted - so check it out, but don't worry as despite what anyone tells you, it is cureable! Rear suspension needs to be in absolutely tip-top condition in order for the thing to handle remotely well, so look for tired bushes or worn components. Soft top? Errm, mixed thoughts on that one. Mine was absolutely bloody useless, but some have had them fit absolutely fine. Leaving it permanently outside, though, I'm not so sure... YMMV. Personally I'd just stick with the removable hard top if you can live with it. The crux of it - if you can push to a K3, make the effort, it will be money well spent.

Pfaa, 98 octane? Cool Blue

Oh, the noise level thing is as a result of local complaints (or, more specifically, complaint - I believe) a year or so ago which meant the club, SDCC, had to knuckle down on noise. 105dB is, I hasten to add, bloody loud so any road car breaking that is madness... but ofcourse I know what these Hoodz are like But it's quite normal for a noise scrutineer to be present during the day to test, so don't think it won't be checked - it will Bloody spoilsports, I 'ate this country at times! Curborough has been there for the best part of 30 years so how someone moves into the area without knowing about it, then manages to successfully complain is beyond me. If you don't like a bit of engine noise, don't move within a couple of miles of a race track, you nonce! I'll get off my soap box now... ahem...

Oh nothing serious, we've still got the Hood but the rallying has taken up most of my time and along with working away all week I never made any of the social events whatsoever. Can I say I "took a sabatical" ?! The Hood is still waiting for the tail end of it's engine transplant to be completed (the worlds longest project, as usual) - just passenger compartment wiring and an exhaust to make up. But it won't be done by July, for sure, as I've got a house move to look forward to. Oh, and for those that asked :- http://www.curborough.co.uk Happily come along and help out organise if need be - member of Shenstone & District Car Club and regular hirer of the track for testing the rally car once a year, so can bring some gubbins along (marquee, generator, etc) if the club's interested...? Then again I guess you've got most of that stuff still Last two years I brought along "something different" for the rest of you boys to p1$$ all over and do the "my car cost peanuts and was still faster" thing... which, being an owner myself I was quite happy to take keeps everything in perspective, doesn't it! Laters chaps, Dan

When is C'brgh and are non-members (albeit ex-members!) allowed along to spectate/meet old friends?

Having done the K transplant referred to in the earlier post the sensible advice would be to stay clear of the K, yes, as it's lots of effort for not much reward. If it's power you want you'll spend a comparatively silly amount to get decent power compared to something like a Honda, Ford Zetec or the good old Vauxhall. Surprised no-one has tried a Peugeot Mi16 (XU) block yet, though, they canter over quite a bit so would probably go under the standard bonnet, and they make decent power too - 163bhp in standard form and 180-185 with little extra effort (carbs/TB's). I agree the obvious choice is a Zetec or Vauxhall...